Disposable protective bib



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K. STRAUSS DISPOSABLE PROTECTIVE BIB Filed Feb.- 4, 1965 July 4, 1967 United States Patent O 3,328,S07 DISPOSABLE PROTECTIVE BIB Kurt Strauss, 1028 Walnut St., Coatesville, Pa. 19320 Filed Feb. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 430,430 1 Claim. (Cl. 2-49) This invention relates to a disposable protective bib, and has particular applicability to the type of bib which is sometimes distributed to patrons in restaurants when they are served lobster, corn on the cob, and other foods which have a tendency to drip and spill, and in the absence of which bib would cause damage to the clothing of the diner, and constitutes an improvement over my copending application entitled Disposable Protective Bib, Ser. No. 224,735, filed Sept. 19, 1962 now abandoned.

A primary objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved bib which may be simply and expeditiously manufactured, and which is provided with adhesive means for securing the same in position, as well additional adhesive means whereby the bottom of the bib may be turned up and fastened to provide a receptacle protecting the lap of the diner, from accidentally dropped food or the like.

A further important object of the invention is the -provision of such a bib wherein the adhesive is of that type which adheres securely only when axed to a corresponding opposed portion of adhesive, and which lacks strong adhesive qualities when adhered to other material.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of a bib of this character wherein the adhesive may be positioned thereon, with all of the adhesive on one side of the bib during manufacture, thus materially simplifying the stamping, cutting, and printing of the bib.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a bib of this character provided with an improved means for fastening the same, constituting two adhesive portions printed or adhered to the same side of the device, in combination with a fold line, whereby one portion may be folded back in order to adhere to the other when the bib is positioned around the neck of the user.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a bib of this character which may be simply and inexpensively manufactured with a minimum of time, effort, and expense, and which may be readily disposed of after a single use.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and details of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE l is a front elevational view of the bib in unfolded or shipping or storing position;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view of the bib folded and ready for use;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail and more -particularly to FIGURE 1, there is generally indicated at a bib constructed in accordance with the instant invention which comprises an elongated substantially rectangular sheet of absorbent material, and preferably an inexpensive disposable material such as absorbent paper, tissue paper, or the like. The sheet is provided with a top edge 12, a bottom edge 13, and opposite side edges 14. Adjacent the top edge 12 but spaced ICC therefrom is a relatively large centrally positioned circular opening 15, adapted to encircle the neck of the wearer or user. An open slit 16 extends perpendicularly to the edge 12 and intersects the circle 11 in a radial direction aligned with the center thereof.

The portions between the circular opening 15 and the edge 12 on opposite sides of slit 16 define tongues, on which, on the same side of the sheet are a pair of adhesive patches 17 and 18. These patches are of an adhesive material characterized by a relatively strong adherence to a confronting portion of identical material, and relatively weak adherence to any other surface, so that in the event the sheets are stacked during shipping or storage the adhesive will not adhere to the blank paper surface of an adjacent sheet. However, when the patches are juxtaposed and pressed together in a manner to be described hereinafter, a relatively strong adhesive bond will be provided. Such adhesive is hereinafter termed self sealing adhesive. Adjacent one of the patches, 18, is a fold line 19 which extends parallel to the slit 16, on the opposite side of the patch 18, to define a substantially rectangular tab 20, comprising that portion of the sheet defined by the slit 16, the fold line 19, a portion of the top edge 12, and a portion of the rim of circular opening 15. When the tab 20 is folded backwardly along the line 19, so that it is positioned in confronting relation or on the opposite side of sheet 11 from patch 17, the two patches may be pressed together, thus reducing the area of the circular opening 15 as shown in FIGURE 2, and securely bonding the two opposite sides of the bib together behind the neck of the wearer. Obviously the adherence of the adhesive is not sufficiently strong to preclude the portions or patches 17 and 18 being pulled apart when it is decided to dispose of the bib.

Adjacent the opposite edge 13 of sheet 11 are a pair of elongated patches 21 and 22 of adhesive material, one positioned adjacent each side edge of the sheet, the patches 21 and 22 being on the same side of the sheet as the patches 17 and 18. A fold line 23 is provided transversely of the sheet parallel to the edge 13, and intersecting the patches 21 and 22 at substantially their midpoints, so that when the bottom edge 13 is rfolded upwardly along the fold line 23 a trough or receptacle 24 will be provided along the lower edge of the bib to catch any food particles or the like dropped by the user. When this folding occurs the upper portion 21a of patch 21 adheres rmly to the lower portion 2lb, while similarly the upper portion 22a of patch 22 adheres firmly to the lower portion 22b thereof.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved bib, which accomplishes all the objects of the invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial irnportance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

A disposable protective bib which comprises:

a rectangularly configured sheet of absorbent disposable tissue material which includes a neck encircling opening adjacent to one edge thereof;

tongues substantially coplanarly disposed relative to the sheet extending toward each other between the said edge and said opening;

a pair of self-sealing vadhesive spots on the same face of said sheet on said tongues proximate the ends thereof; and

a fold line on one tongue only perpendicular to said one edge and between an adhesive spot thereon and the connection of the tongue to the sheet, said fold line and adhesive spots on said tongues being arranged such that in use the tongues lie in overlapping relation with said one tongue being folded at said fold line to a reverted position and positioned intermediate the overlapping tongues for sealing juxtaposition of said adhesive spots to form a bib extending in a single continuous curved surface from the 4back of the users neck to approximately the Waist ofthe user.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Forster 2--50 Woolever 2-49 Barager 2-49 Haydu 2-49 Cooper 2-49 X Burnett 2-49 10 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

A. GUEST, Assistant Examiner. 

